Self-draining faucet or bib-cock.



PATENTED MAY 9, 1905. E. T. FREEMAN & J. L. (3OPELAIHJ. SELF DRAINING FAUGET 0R BIB COCK.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 22. 1904.

v m ill 1 v Iv J UNITED STATES Patented May 9, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

EARNEST T. FREEMAN AND JOSH L. COPELAND, OF TROY, ALABAMA.

SELF-DRAINING FAUCET OR BIB-COCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,214, dated May 9, 1905. Application filed June 22, 1904. Serial No. 213,693.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, EARNEST T. FREEMAN and J osH L. COPELAND, citizens of the United States, residing at Troy, in the county of Pike and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Draining Faucets or Bib-Cocks, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved form of bib-cock or faucet; and the essential feature thereof is comprised in a peculiar construction of air-inlet valve, which is automatically operable so as to admit air to the service-pipe whenever the main water-supply is cut off.

As is well known, it is often necessary in water systems to cut oif the main supply so as to prevent freezing of the pipes in eX- tremely cold weather, and to admit of drainage of the pipes it is necessary ordinarily to open the cocks or faucets in different parts of the building to admit air. The above is of obvious disadvantage, and it is a desideratum of our invention to provide automatic means of a special construction hereinafter to be set forth for accomplishing the same without reliance upon human agencies.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

VVhile the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa vertical sectional view showing the embodiment of our invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, partially broken away, bringing out more clearly the construction of the air-inlet valve.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in both views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

In the drawings the usual form of cock 0r faucet is illustrated, and the same consists of the casing 1, having the outlet-spout 2 and the inlet 3. Within the casing is provided the usual diaphragm 4, having a vertical port 5, which forms the valve-seat for an ordinary reciprocating valve 6 of any type which may be used. The valve 6 is operated bythe stem 7, having the handle 8.

The improvement which constitutes our invention consists of the air-passage 9, located in an enlargement 10, the latter being disposed upon the upper portion of the casing adjacent the inlet end 3 thereof. The passage 9 is inclined in its length, and its upper end leads into the upper tubular extension 11 of the casing at a point above the diaphragm 4. The lower end of the passage 9 is closed by means of an adjustable stop in the form of a screw-plug 12, which latter is threaded into the opening which forms the passage 9, as shown most clearly in the drawings. Leading downwardly from the'passage 9 is a second passage 13, which extends into the interior of the inlet end 3 of the casing, thus establishing communication between the casing parts upon opposite sides of the diaphragm 4.

Operating in the inclined passage 9 is a ballvalve 14, which latter is normally held seated against a seat 15, formed by contracting the opening 9 at its upper end by means of the pressure of the water coming into the inlet end 3 of the faucet. The said water passes upwardly through the passage 13 and into the passage 9, so as to efiect'the above seating of the valve 14. The plug 12 is pointed at its inner end, as shown at 12, and this end is designed to cooperate with the valve 14 when the water-pressure is removed by cutting off the main supply to limit the downward movement of said valve in the passage 9. The passages 9 and 13 are necessarily larger than the valve 14, and in order to prevent the valve from displacement from the said passages the plug or adjustable stop 12 is utilized. Said stop is adjustable so as to compensate for any wear which may be had by engagement of the ball-valve 14 with the pointed end thereof, and it will be readily noted that this plug may be quickly removed and replaced should it be necessary to have access to the passages 9 and 13.

In operation the main valve 6 is used in its capacity as a cut-ofl and drain valve in the ordinary manner. When it becomes necessary to cut-ofi' the main supply in the servicepipes of the system, the pressure being relieved within the said pipes, the valve 14,which is normally closed against the seat 15, moves away from its seat into contact with the plug 12. In so doing air is admitted to the spout 2 and the passages 9 and 13 into the inlet end 3 of the valve, and the water will thus be permitted to drain off. As soon as the pressure is turned on in the main supply the valve 14 is forced back to its seat 15, admitting, however, of egress of the air contained in the pipes, which is forced out by the inrushing water. The ball-valve of course operates by gravity in its movement from the seat 15.

Within the perview of the invention it is to be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction ma; be resorted to without departing from or altering the nature of the invention.

Having thus described the invention,'what is claimed as new is 1. In a cock of the type having a diaphragm in which is formed a valve-controlled opening, the combination of the casing having an airpassage bridging the said diaphragm and valve controlled opening, and comprising members arranged approximately at a right angle to each other, the longitudinal member being upwardly inclined and terminating in a valve-seat, and a ball-valve arranged in said longitudinal member to close against the seat under pressure of the water and to move away from said seat when the pressure in relieved to permit automatic draining of the cock and service-pipe, substantially as specified.

the combination of the casing having an airpassage bridging the said diaphragm and valve-controlled opening, and comprising angularly-disposed members, the longitudinal passage being inclined and having a valveseat at its upper end, a stop threaded into'the casing and extended across the air-passage, and a ball-valve free to play in said longitudinal passage between the stop and the valveseat and closing with the pressure of the water and opening when said pressure is relieved, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 3. In a cock of the type having a diaphragm in which is formed a valve-controlled opening, and having an enlargement in the angle formed between the inlet end of the casing and the tubular extension receiving the valve-stem, said enlargement having an inclined air-passage 9 and vertical air-passage 13 in connection with the passage 9, and having valveseat 15 at the upper end of passage 9, a ballvalve arranged in the passage 9 to close against seat '15, and a screw-plug threaded in the aforesaid enlargement and pointed at its inner end, and having the pointed end extended across passage 13 and into the lower end of passage 9 to limit the rearward movement of the ball-valve when unseated, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

EARNEST T. FREEMAN. [L. s.] JOSH L. COPELAND. [L. s.] Witnesses:

SETH COPELAND, v CHAS. T. COPELAND. 

